Notes of the Step By Step presentation

1. STEP BY STEP ON
ELECTION DAY
Purpose of this presentation portion: To familiarize the watchers of the proper procedures
during voting, counting and transmission so they can make the proper complaint, challenge
or protest, report to their supervisors and set the groundwork for the legal team to make the
appropriate action, if necessary. Modified by Res. No. 8786 (Revised BEI General
Instructions for May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections)
THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS (BEI)
Primary function :
•To conduct the voting and electronic counting of votes in their respective polling
places.
•Print election returns and transmit electronically the results
•Act as COMELEC deputies in the conduct of elections
•Maintain order in the polling place and premises
–Prohibits use of cameras and celphones of voters (not watchers)
•Other functions to be designated by law or Comelec
Clustered Precincts:
One (1) BEI for every clustered precinct ranging from 3 to 7 original precincts to as there
are not enough PCOS machines to cover every precinct for the 2010 elections.
Composition :
1. Chairman
2. Member
3. Poll Clerk
All should be public school teachers (§ 13, R.A. No. 6646)
At least one member of the BEI shall be a technology-capable person as certified by the
DOST after training (§ 1, Res. No. 8786)
Qualifications:
1. Good Moral Character and Irreproachable reputation
2. Registered Voter of the city or municipality
3. Has not been convicted of any election offense or any other crime punishable by more
than six (6) months of imprisonment
4. No pending case against filed in the COMELEC/court for any election offense
5. Able to speak, read and write English or the local dialect

2. [2]
Disqualification:
Relationship – No person shall serve as chairman or member of the BEI if he is related
within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any member of the BEI; or to any
candidate to be voted for in the polling place or his spouse (§ 167 of BP Blg. 881).
Temporary Absences/Vacancies:
1. Present members shall call a substitute from the list of public school teachers
submitted by the DepEd to perform the absent member’s duties
2. If none available, members shall appoint any qualified non-partisan registered voter
of the precinct
–If BEI appoints a watcher, objectionable because evident partisanship
–Temporary Appointment, until the absent member appears
AUTOMATED ELECTION SUPPORT STAFF
–In addition to BEI
–Maximum of 3 support staff
–Registered voters in the precinct/clustered precinct assigned:
–For 1 to 2 clustered precincts: no support staff
–For 3 clustered precints: Max 1 support staff
–For 4 clustered precints: Max 2 support staff
–For 5, 6 and 7 clustered: Max 3 support staff
–Cannot participate in deliberation or vote on any issue or question before the BEI
DEPED SUPERVISOR OFFICIAL
• Plan, organize and supervise:
o Setting up of voter’s assistance
o Crowd management
• Maintain list of technical, PNP and AFP personnel for efficient coordination in case of
need
• Contact person of Election Officer in polling center
• Support Staff: assists in the above functions
• One supervisor per polling place, plus one support staff
• If polling place has more than 10 clustered precincts, there shall be additional
supervisors and staff, to follow the formula:
o 1-10 clustered precincts: 1 supervisor and 1 support staff
o 11-20 clustered precincts: 2 supervisors and 2 support staff
o 21-20 clustered precincts: 3 supervisors and 3 support staff
o and so on

3. [3]
TESTING AND SEALING OF PCOS
At least 3 days before Election Day
(Per COMELEC Resolution No. 8785)
Procedure:
1. BEI meets and get the following forms, documents and supplies:
• Test Ballots (A6-TS)
• Election Returns (A9-TS)
• Minutes of Testing and Sealing, Voting and Counting
• Paper Seal for PCOS Box and Ballot Box
• Envelopes
• Supplies
2. BEI explains to those present the purpose and procedures for testing and sealing
3. Random choosing of 10 test voters from among present
4. Show to public that PCOS is sealed
5. Remove seal and open PCOS box
6. Check if the following are in the PCOS Box:
• Checklist of contents
• PCOS Machine
• Power cord for PCOS Machine
• Ten (10) test ballots
• Envelope containing spare iButton key
• Three (3) rolls of thermal paper
• Envelope containing back-up memory card
• 3 Envelopes labeled PINs of BEI
• Envelope labled PIN for re-zeroing
• Modem, if any
(The three rolls of thermal paper and modem, if any, shall not be used during testing
and will remain in the PCOS box.)
7. Get PIN envelopes and distribute among BEI members
8. Get Test ballots
9. Show public that slot labeled POLL WORKER (containing main memory) is sealed
10. Place PCOS on top of ballot box
11. Break seal of PCOS printer cover
12. Open printer cover and Chairman takes iButton security key
13. Verify roll of paper is properly installed
14. Close printer cover
15. Plug the power adaptor and cord to port and outlet
16. Connect battery to PCOS DC port
• If there is no power, reset procedure
17. Insertion of iButton security key

4. [4]
18. Running Diagnostics by IT-Capable member
• Memory test
• EEPROM test
• Printer test
• Keypad (LCD and buttons) test
• Clock test
• Power test
• Scanner test (insert one blank ballot)
• Diagnostic Report Printing
19. Open the PCOS for test voting
20. Initialize (Zero) vote counters
21. Printing Zero report
22. Issuance of ten (10) test ballots
• Max two voters can fill up one ballot at the same time
23. BEI examines test ballots
24. Test voter personally inserts ballots in PCOS
25. Close voting procedures
26. Printing of Test ERs
• No digital signing
• No transmission
27. Re-zeroing of PCOS
28. Manual Verification of Test Voting results
• Checking for over-voting
• Reading of names in order of appearance
• Poll Clerk to tally on ER (“taras” method)
• Totaling of votes per candidate
• Comparison with PCOS generated results
o If they tally, sign the certification
o If not, review and re-appreciate
o If still does not tally, call technical support
29. Post-testing
• Shut down of PCOS
• Disconnect battery
• Disconnect power cable
• Placing of ER (manual and PCOS generated in envelope A17-TS) for
submission
• Placing of back-up memory in PCOS ADMINSTRATOR slot and sealing
• Placing iButton on printer compartment and sealing
• Recording of serial numbers in Minutes
• Placing, sealing and locking of ballot box and PCOS Box
• Allow citizen’s arm to place their own seal
• Turnover/Disposition of Materials

5. [5]
VOTING HOURS:
7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Justification for extended voting hours: Clustered precincts increased voters to be serviced.
But no more lengthy counting of votes because of automation. Results are generated as soon
as voting closes.
PRE - BALLOTING
BEFORE 7:00 A.M.
Before the voting begins, the BEI shall:
•Post a copy of the List of Voters at the door of the polling place.
•Show to the public the PCOS machine and accessories, package of official ballots duly
wrapped and sealed, the number of pads and the serial number of the ballots in each pad and
the Book of Voters duly sealed.
•Time to show credentials to the BEI chair and have it recorded in the minutes.
•Show to the public:
–The PCOS is sealed
–Ballot Box is locked and empty (transparent compartment)
–the package of official ballots and the Book of Voters duly sealed and break seals
•Remove the seal of the PCOS box
• Check whether supplies are inside the PCOS Box
o Checklist of content in box,
o PCOS Machine.
o Power Cord
o One envelop with the spare iButton,
o Three (3) rolls of official thermal paper,
o Three (3) PINs of the BEI,
o PIN for re-zeroing to remain in PCOS Box,
o Modem, if any (at least one modem per polling center),
o Two (2) copies of the minutes.
• Retrieve the Minutes from the PCOS box
o Check if serial number of PCOS Box seal is the same recorded in the Minutes of
Testing and Sealing conducted at least 3 days before
o Enter in Minutes:
 The number of ballots as indicated in the package of the ballots
 The fact that the PCOS Box, package of ballots and Book of Voters were

6. [6]
shown to the public with seals intact
• Retrieve the PIN of the BEI and distribute among themselves
• Retrieve PCOS from the box
•Show the seals of the printer cover, main memory (“POLL WORKER”) and back-up
memory card (“ADMINISTRATOR”) slot are intact
•Unlock the sliding cover of the ballot box and break its plastic security seal
•Place PCOS properly on top of the ballot box
•Break the printer cover seal (but not memory cards seal)
•Open Printer Cover
–Chairman takes out iButton security key
–Verify roll of paper is properly installed
–Close printer cover
•Connect power adaptor to the PCOS AC power port (220VAC) and plug to electrical outlet
•Connect battery to PCOS DC power port (12 VDC)
• If there is no power, use a pen, press the RESET button on top of the PCOS
AC power port
• As a watcher, verify that the battery works
•PCOS displays “PLEASE INSERT SECURITY KEY FOR AUTHENTICATION”
•Chairman places iButton security key on the correct receptacle
•PCOS displays “SECURITY KEY VERIFIED”
•PCOS main menu displays on screen touchpad
•PCOS initialization by IT-capable BEI member
–Select “OPEN VOTING”
–PCOS request for PIN from poll clerk
–PCOS request for PIN from third member
•Initializing vote counters
•Printing Initialization Report (aka Zero Report)
•PCOS ready to accept votes (displays: “PLEASE INSERT BALLOTS”)

7. [7]
CASTING OF VOTES
Voting hours
•7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except when there are voters present within 30 meters in front of the
polling place who have not yet cast their votes.
•The voting shall continue but only to allow said voters to cast their votes without
interruption (§ 190, B.P. Blg. 881).
•Procedure for extra voters:
• Poll clerk prepares complete list of names of unfinished voters, consecutively
numbered.
• Announce name to call them to vote 3 times in the order listed
• If voter does not respond the call, voted cannot vote at any later time
Voting Privilege of BEI and Support Staff:
•BEI and Support Staff may avail of local absentee voting or vote in the precinct other than
where they are assigned:
–Provided voting in the precinct is light
–Allowed to leave to post for 30 minutes maximum and
–One at a time only
Who may vote?
•All registered voters
•Names appearing in PCVL or EDCVL
•Whose registration records have not been cancelled or deactivated
Rules to be observed during voting:
•Voters vote in the order of their arrival at the polling place
•No watcher shall enter the place reserved for the voters, BEI
•No watcher shall mingle or talk with the voters
•No firearms or deadly weapons in polling place, except those authorized by
COMELEC
•No crowding of voters and disorderly behavior inside polling place
•Ballot box locked during voting
Persons allowed in and around the polling place:
•Members of the BEI and support staff, if any
•Watchers

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•Comelec representatives
•Technical Support Staff, when summoned by BEI to address technical problems
•Voters casting their votes
•Voters waiting for their turn to cast their votes
•Other persons specifically authorized by COMELEC (e.g. DepEd supervisor)
Persons NOT allowed to enter or to stay inside the polling place or within 50-meter radius thereof:
•Any officer or member of the AFP and PNP
•Any person belonging to any extra-legal police agency, special forces, reaction
forces, strike forces, CAFGUs, barangay tanod, or other similar forces or para-
military forces, including special forces, security guards, special policeman, and all
other kinds of armed or unarmed extra-legal police officers
•Any barangay official
•Except to vote
Special Security Details:
•BEI decision by majority vote
•For the protection of the BEI or election paraphernalia
•Entered into the Minutes (A11)
•Stays just outside near enough to be easily called by the BEI anytime
•Police or peace office shall not talk to voter, disturb or obstruct the proceedings
Other prohibitions on voters (§ 30, Comelec Res. No. 8786):
•Cannot bring ballot, secrecy folder or marking pen outside of polling place
•Cannot speak anyone while inside polling place other than BEI or assistors
•Must use secrecy folder when preparing ballot
•Cannot to exhibit contents of ballot
•Cannot fill ballot accompanied by another, unless assistor
•Cannot erase any printing from ballot or put any distinguishing marks in it
•Cannot carbon paper or any means to copy contents
•Cannot use camera, celphone, or any other scheme to record ballot contents
•Cannot intentionally tear or deface the ballot
•Cannot disrupt or attempt to disrupt normal PCOS operations
Voting Procedure:
1. Voter verifies if his name is on the PCVL list
2. Then the voter obtains his ballot
•The voter approaches the BEI member or support staff-in-charge and gives his
sequence number in the PCVL, name, address and other data
• BEI verifies identity in EDCVL

9. [9]
•If the BEI is satisfied as to his identity, the Chairman shall announce the voter’s
name in a tone loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place.
•If you are not familiar with the person, challenge his/her identity.
•If you know he/she has done something illegal, issue a challenge.
•Chairman checks fingernails for indelible ink. If found, voter directed to leave and
informed of the reason, then recorded in minutes. An indelible ink stain on the
finger is a conclusive presumption that a voter has already cast his/her vote. Hence,
that voter will not be allowed to vote under any circumstance.
•If none, Chairman shall sign the EDCVL and authenticate the ballot by signing at
the front thereof
• Chairman instructs the voter on how to fill-up the ballot properly
•Chairman inserts the ballot in secrecy folder, covering the face except where
Chairman’s signature appears
•Chairman gives ballot to voter
–Only the Chairman shall issue the official ballots
–Only one ballot issued at one time
•Voter signs in EDCVL
•Voter signs in goes to designated place to fill up ballot
•Voter approaches PCOS and insert ballot in the entry slot
• BEI shall monitor the PCOS screen to make sure that the ballot was
successfully accepted.
• But not look into the contents of the ballot
•Return secrecy folder and marking pen to Chairman
•Application of indelible ink
•Voter places thumbmark in EDCVL
•Voter leaves polling place and not linger
3. Challenging Voters- enter challenge when BEI Chairman announces the name of the
voter
Two grounds:

10. [10]
–Illegal voter
–Illegal acts
4. Illegal voter
–not being registered
–using the name of another voter
–suffering from an existing disqualification
–being a double/multiple registrant
5. Illegal acts
•he/she has received or expects to receive, has paid, offered or promised to
contribute money or anything of value as consideration for his/her vote or for the
vote of another;
•he/she has made or received a promise to influence the giving or withholding of
such vote;
•he/she has made, or is interested directly or indirectly in, a bet which depends upon
the result of the election.
6. How to challenge voters
–Issue a verbal challenge to the voter clearly heard by the BEI;
–State your grounds
–Be firm and assertive, as this voter may be the difference between the candidate
winning or losing this election
–Make sure that the challenge is recorded in the minutes (A11), as well as all other
documents regarding such challenge (A35, A39 and A40)
–Inform your superiors
7. Resolution of Challenge
For illegal voter:
–The BEI shall ask the person challenged to present proof of registration, identity or
qualification. If the challenged voter cannot produce his/her voter’s registration
card, you can confirm his/her identity by checking his/her photograph or specimen
signature in his/her registration record or in any other valid identification document.
–A member of the BEI may identify the voter, under oath, and record this in Part E
of the Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes (A35) and issues form (A40).
For illegal acts:

11. [11]
•The voter will take an oath denying the facts alleged in the challenge. (A39)
•If the voter refuses to take an oath, he/she shall not be allowed to vote.
8. Illiterate and Physically Challenged Voter
•If voter is illiterate or physically unable to vote, he can avail of the assistance of
ONE (1) assistor
•This fact of illiteracy or physical incapacity must be recorded in the EDCVL, voter’s
registration record. The “readily obvious” requirement no longer applies.
•Poll clerk must first verify that such person had authorized his/her assistor to fill up
the ballot for him/her
•Then the assistor should take an oath that he/she will
–a. fill the ballot as instructed by the voter
–b. not reveal the contents of the ballot to anyone
•This will be recorded in the minutes
•These procedures also apply to the voters physically impaired to insert his ballot
into the PCOS
–Assistor should not display the contents of the ballot during its feeding into
the PCOS
9. Eligibility to be an Assistor
a. relative of the voter by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree;
b. person he/she trusts who belongs to his/her same household, in the absence of
the relative;
c. member of the BEI
d. assistor must be of voting age
10. Notes on assistors:
•Except for the BEI member, an assistor can only assist a maximum of 3 illiterate
and/or incapacitated voters.
•Be wary of an assistor to multiple voters. This may be a sign of cheating (except the
BEI member). Report this to superiors if this occurs in your polling place.
11. Premature Announcement of Voting

12. [12]
No member of the BEI shall, before the termination of the voting, make any announcement
as to:
–whether a certain registered voter has already voted or not
–how many have voted or how many so far have failed to vote
–any other fact tending to show or showing the state of the polls
–how a person voted, except as witness before a court (§ 205, B.P. Blg. 881).
12. Shortage of Ballots Procedure
• Follow the same verification of identity procedures
• BEI to issue certification to voter that he is a registered voter in the
precinct but there are no more available ballots for use
• Record in minutes
• Third member accompanies voter to the next precinct of same councilor
district
• Chairman of other precinct gets the Certification of none-availability of
ballots
• Record in minutes of other precinct the name, precinct number and the
Certification
• Write name of voter and precinct number in EDVCL
• Proceed to instruct voter on how to fill up ballot
• Same procedures as in normal voting
13. Rejected Ballots Procedures:
• Three types of messages in PCOS rejection of ballot:
o “Ambiguous Mark”
 BEI lets voter review ballot to ensure ovals are fully shaded
o “Misread Ballot”
 BEI lets voter re-feed ballot 4 different orientations
o “Invalid Ballot”
 BEI verifies ballot belongs to precinct
 If not, voter returns ballot to Chairman
 If yes, re-feed ballot 4 different orientations
• If scanning still fails:
o Voter returns ballot to Chairman
o Mark back of ballot as “rejected”
o BEI signs back and place in Envelope for Rejected Ballots (A15)
o No replacement ballot shall be issued to voter
• Any party, including the watcher, may object to rejection and noted in
Minutes
14. Recap of Procedures:

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1. Verification in PCVL
2. Approach BEI or staff
3. Verification of Identity
4. Announcement of Name
5. Challenge (if any)
6. Checking for indelible ink
7. Signing of EDCVL and Authentication of ballot
8. Voter from another precinct procedures, if any
9. Voter to be accompanied to another precinct, if any
10. Instruction on how to properly fill-up ballot
11. Insertion to secrecy folder
12. Giving of ballot to voter
13. Voter signs EDVCL
14. Voter selects candidates and marks his ballot
15. Insertion of ballot in PCOS
16. Ballot rejection procedure, if any
17. Return of secrecy folder and marker to Chairman
18. Voter thumbmarks EDCVL
19. Voter leaves polling place and not linger
HOW TO FILL UP BALLOT:
1. Fully shade the ovals
2. Do not vote for more candidates that required
o Votes invalidated for that contest
o Other contests not affected
3. Do not fold, crumple or deface the ballot
4. Do not put unnecessary marks on the ballot (eg. on the bar code)
o These cases may lead to ballot rejection
PRE - COUNTING OF VOTES
(6:00 p.m. or when there are no more votes legally allowed to vote after the time)
Before counting the votes
•The BEI shall record in the Minutes of Voting and Counting the quantity and numbers
of the unused ballots.
•The Chairman shall tear the unused ballots in half lengthwise.
•½ of the torn portion bearing the serial numbers shall be placed in an envelope
(A15) to be submitted to the Election Officer
•The other ½ portion shall be placed in another envelope (A15) and deposited inside
the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots (PCOS has only one
compartment).

14. [14]
COUNTING OF VOTES
Public and Without Interruption
•As soon as the voting is finished, the BEI shall publicly count in the polling place
the votes cast and ascertain the results.
•No adjournment or postponement or delay until counting has been fully
completed.
Procedure:
1. Validation of the iButton Security key (as in opening)
2. Operator press “CLOSE VOTING” option in PCOS Main Menu
3. Poll Clerk and Third Member enters their PIN
4. Printing/Signing/Sealing of Election Returns (first eight copies)
5. Posting and Announcement (immediately after eight copy)
6. Performance of Transmission Function
7. Replacement of Thermal Printer Paper Roll
8. Printing of Additional 22 Copies of the ER (automatic PCOS)
9. Printing of Audit Log
10. PCOS Creation of Backup files
11. Signing/Sealing of ERs (22 copies)
12. Printing of Transmission Report (in case of failure)
13. Re-transmission (3 attempts, then call support)
14. Printing other copies of ER and other reports
15. Backup and write-protect Backup Card
16. Shutdown PCOS
17. Disposition of ERs to proper parties
18. Disposition of PCOS, ballot box, keys, etc.
POST - COUNTING Procedures
After the counting of votes
•The BEI shall deliver the ballot box to the city/municipal treasurer.
•The BEI shall deliver to the Election Officer the separate envelopes containing the
election returns intended for the city/municipal Board of Canvassers, Comelec and
the Provincial Board of Canvassers.
•PCOS shutdown procedures
•Disposition of PCOS, ballot boxes and other paraphernalia
–Placing inside ballot box ER, Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes,
half-torn unused ballots and rejected ballots
–Closing and locking of ballot box
•Self locking metal seals

15. [15]
•Three padlocks
–Turn over of PCOS to the support technician in voting center
–Delivery of ballot box to city or municipal treasurer
•Watchers can accompany
–Delivery of Book of Voters, EDCVL, PCVL, copy of minutes, other half of
unused ballots, list of voters allowed after hours, the keys, etc. to Election
Supervisor, Provincial Prosecutor and Provincial Treasurer
ER’s must be signed and thumbmarked by BEI. Refusal to do so is an election offense.
When does it become the duty of the BEI to issue an additional copy of the ER?
•When the watchers request for a copy.
•After the electronic results have been transmitted, additional copies not to exceed
thirty (30) may be printed and given to requesting parties at their own expense. (§ 22,
RA 8436).
•As a watcher for a dominant majority/minority or major national/local party you
will be entitled to receive a copy of the ERs sealed in an official Envelope (A17).
Bring this to your supervisor at once.
Step by Step on Election day.doc